Key position analysis

White: S. Polgar Black: B. Gulko (2006 Mayor’s Cup Invitational – Round 6)

24.d5! exd5 25.g3 Be5 26.Bxe5! Nxe5 27.Nd4 Rcc8 28.Nxb5 Re7 [28…Red8 is another option. I would then play 29. Nxa7 with a decisive advantage anyway.]

29.Rxd5 g6 30.Kg2 Better be safe than sorry, especially in rapid chess. Moving out of any potential check.

30…Nc6 31.a3 Again, I did not want to take any chances. I wanted to prevent any counter attack or cheap shots. [31.Nd6 Rcc7 32.a3+-]

31…Kg7 32.Nd6 Rb8 33.Nc4 Rb5 34.Ne3 Re6 35.Rd6 This may not have been the strongest move but it follows the basic principles of chess. When you are ahead of materials, simplify!

35…Rxc5 36.Rxe6 Rxc2 37.Rxg6+ hxg6 38.Nxc2 This is a safe and comfortable winning endgame for me.

38…Kf6 39.Kf3 Ke5 40.Ke3 a5 41.Kd3 Kd5 42.f4 Kc5 43.g4 Ne7 44.Ne3 a4 45.h4 Ng8 46.h5 gxh5 47.gxh5 Nh6 48.Ke4 f6 49.Nd5 This is much simpler to calculate than the 49. Nf5 line, especially with very little time. [49.Nf5 Nf7 50.h6 Kc4 51.h7 Kb3 52.Kd5 Kxa3 53.Ke6 Nh8 54.Kxf6 Kb2 55.Kg7 a3 56.Kxh8 a2 57.Kg8 a1Q 58.h8Q+ Way to complicated to calculate with very little time.]

49…Kc4 50.Nxf6 Kb3 51.Nd5 Kxa3 52.Nb6 Kb3 53.Nxa4 Kxa4 54.Ke5 Kb5 55.Kf6 Kc6 56.Kg6 Ng8 57.h6 1–0 This was Boris’ first loss in the tournament. He is not an easy opponent to defeat.